CHICAGO, OUTSIDE BECCA ROSS’ APARTMENT:

Jim Bowers is knocking on the door to the apartment. Inside, Becca peers out the peephole, then opens the door cautiously, the chain guard still in place. “Yes?” she asks guardedly.

“Ms. Ross. My name is Jim Bowers. I wonder if I could talk to you. I’ve taken your brother-in-law’s case and there are some things I’d like to discuss with you.”

Becca’s face reflects her surprise. “Was Richard captured? Is he all right?” she asks apprehensively.

“He’s fine. And no, he’s not in custody. I wasn’t able to talk him into turning himself in,” he adds with a wry smile.

Still cautious, Becca unchains the door and ushers him in. “How did you and Richard meet?”

“Actually, we never have. He and my brother were friends…good friends.”

“Were?”

“Paul died of prostate cancer soon after the trial. My sister-in-law put Richard in contact with me. She knows Paul would have wanted me to help him if I can.”

“Paul Bowers? Richard’s best man?”

“Yes, Paul did tell me that.”

“I met him at the wedding. I’m sorry,” Becca says sincerely. “I know what it’s like to lose someone you love.”

Jim looks at her, sharply reminded that it was Becca’s sister who was murdered.

Staving off his sympathy, Becca changes the subject. “I’m glad that Richard has found someone to represent him. The evidence about the tampered X-rays that was presented at the mock trial should surely be enough to win an appeal. You know about that, don't you?”

“I’ve already followed up on that after talking to Todd Young, the prosecuting attorney at the mock trial. But there’s a problem. There was a fire at the morgue. All the original records were destroyed.”

Becca is stunned. “But surely Dr. Alexander will testify…”

“Dr. Alexander is denying the conversation ever took place.”

“Someone got to him, too.” She sinks down on the couch and Jim moves to sit on the chair opposite her.

“It would seem so. That’s why I need you.”

“Me? What can I do to help? Surely you know Gerard is watching my every move?”

“I’m hoping you can help me in investigating another connection. It seems Richard has uncovered evidence that Ben Charnquist is involved in the illegal smuggling of diamonds. He told me that your sister’s murder was the result of a kidnapping attempt that went awry. He feels that the kidnapping and the diamond smuggling may be related.”

Becca wears a puzzled frown and folds her arms in her lap. “I don’t understand. What would diamond smuggling have to do with Charnquist wanting to kidnap me, or Helen?”

Bowers hesitates before continuing. “I know this may be painful, Ms. Ross, but Dr. Kimble has also uncovered evidence that your father may be involved in smuggling diamonds.”

Horrified, Becca is speechless for a moment. “What kind of evidence?”

“Richard tracked the one-armed man to a small town in Ohio - Haventown.” Pausing, he asks, “Does that name mean anything to you?”

“No,” says Becca, shaking her head emphatically.

Jim continues his story. “Richard confronted a man named Alcini in Haventown, who was also involved in diamond smuggling. Unfortunately, he was accidentally shot and killed, but before he died, he implicated your father in his operation.”

Becca covers her face with her hands. “But that would mean…Helen was killed because my father…” Looking up, she says angrily, “That means my father blamed Richard when all along he knew it was HIS fault!”

Jim reaches out to grasp her hand and calm her. “We don’t know that. He may not have realized what happened himself until long after your sister was murdered.”

“Then he should be helping Richard now!” Becca responded, shaking off his hand and rising to restlessly pace the room.

Jim watches her and says reluctantly. “He couldn’t do that without implicating himself.”

Understanding dawns on Becca’s face and she turns to face him.

Bowers says plainly, “I need your help, Ms. Ross. I know this will be a hard decision for you and I don’t expect an answer today, but you’re the only person who can help me find out what’s going on in your father’s business. I need to find a connection between Charnquist and your father so that I can establish a motive for the kidnapping.”

Becca stares out the window in silence for a few seconds before turning to face him again. “I don’t have to think about it, Mr. Bowers. If my father was involved in something illegal and Helen died because of it… I want to see her murderer punished, regardless of the consequences to my father.”

Jim relaxes in his seat. “I really appreciate that, Ms. Ross,” he says gratefully. “For Richard’s sake.”

Returning to her seat, Becca asks, “What can I do to help?”

“I understand you’re on parole.”

“Yes. I was helping out with a prison GED training program that's led by a local pastor. Apparently that impressed the parole board.”

“It sounds like you tried to do some good while you were in prison. That kind of an attitude is usually looked on favorably by a parole board.”

Becca gives him an annoyed look. “That’s not why I did it. Some of the women were really very bright and have a lot of potential,” she added. “They just never had the opportunities I had.”

With a glance at the oppulent furnishings in the apartment, Jim returns to the matter at hand. “I need to find evidence of connection between Charnquist and your father’s business. Is there anyone else in your father’s company I could talk to? Anyone you trust?”

“Not with something like this.” Becca says, shaking her head.

Jim’s face mirrors his disappointment. He looks thoughtful. “I don’t suppose…could you go back to work for your father, see if you could find anything out yourself?” he asks hesitantly.

Becca looks at him, her startled look turning into one of determination. “Of course! My father will be thrilled to have me back at the company again. What do you need me to do?”

“Look for memos, faxes, secretive meetings or phone calls, especially with anyone whose business connections you can’t substantiate.”

As Becca nods in agreement, Jim adds, “Is there anything else you can tell me, anything from your conversations with Gerard?”

At the mention of Gerard’s name, Becca stands up and begins pacing in front of the window, angrily. “Gerard has a closed mind about Richard! I explained to Agent Hilliard about Smith and the kidnapping. I’m not sure she believed me, but she at least listened.”

“When was this?” Jim questions her, surprised.

“Right after Christmas.” With a puzzled look, Becca adds, “She asked me about someone named Gagomiros. I don’t know why. He worked briefly for my father, though I couldn’t tell her much.”

“That’s very interesting,”, Jim says, rubbing his chin. “Richard never mentioned that name in our conversation. Maybe I should talk to Agent Hilliard and try to find out the reason for her interest. And if you could find out anything more…”.

“I’ll do whatever I can.”

Getting up from his seat, he reaches out to shake Becca’s hand. “I really appreciate your willingness to help, Ms. Ross. I’ll keep in touch.”

“Thank you. For helping Richard,” Becca says with feeling, releasing his hand.

“Thank you!" As he walks out the door and Becca stares after him with a hopeful look.

SAN FRANCISCO-HENRY ARMANESCO’S HOUSE - THAT EVENING

Henry is in his late son Nicolas’s room putting some things into boxes for donation. He remembers briefly how Richard Kimble stayed with him after his son died. Overcome with emotion, he walks into the living room and turns on the TV. At the sight of the talk show host, he reaches for the remote to change the channel, but it does not work. He throws it angrily aside. At the sound of shattering glass, he looks around and is devastated to see the control box has knocked one of the ships in a bottle that his son made, knocking it to the floor where it lies in pieces.

As he runs over to check the damage, On the Record With Greta Van Sustern drones in the background.

“Thank you for joining us tonight Agent Holmes.”

“Thank you for inviting me, Ms. Van Sustern.”

“Once again you managed to hit national news courtesy of Richard Kimble in Syracuse. There was a lot of new evidence that came out in that mock retrial of Richard Kimble.”

At the sound of Kimble’s name, Henry turns back to the television:

“Yes, it was shame that the trial ended so abruptly. It would have been interesting to see whether the jury found Kimble guilty or not-guilty based on the new evidence that was presented.”

“Agent Holmes, you were instrumental in providing information that you’ve uncovered in your investigation of this crime. We’ve heard you were also the one who provided the diary to the defense?”

“Helen Kimble’s diary was delivered to the defense by Federal Express. It arrived anonymously. No one is really sure who sent it, but it certainly was authentic. Helen’s sister, Becca Ross, confirmed it was her sister’s handwriting.”

“Based on everything you heard and the fact that Kimble saved your life, do you think Kimble is innocent as he’s proclaimed himself to be all along?”

Kari looks thoughtful and waits several seconds before she answers. “The fact that Dr. Kimble saved my life is irrelevant. My job is to seek the truth.”

“But if you had been on the jury…”

“The state must prove that a person is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and if there is any doubt whatsoever, then the jury cannot render a guilty verdict…at least that’s how it’s supposed to work. I think the latest information does show that there were things in the original investigation that were simply never looked into. If Dr. Kimble were given a new trial, based on the evidence we saw in Syracuse, I think a jury might have a more difficult time rendering a guilty verdict.”

Henry is listening in complete surprise to hear an officer of the law who is so open-minded and concerned for the truth.

“What about this One Armed Man?”

“Well, for a long time law enforcement believed this man was dead. However, now that there are confirmed sightings, he is definitely a person of interest to FBI and the Chicago PD, particularly since the gun found on him is the same gun used to kill Bill Walsh. Walsh claimed he saw Ben Charnquist kill Helen Kimble. And the same gun was used to kill a federal agent by the name of Dennis Gagamiros when Kmble and Charnquist were in the same warehouse.”

“Well, it appears this case is far from over, if and when the task force catches up to him. Thank you for your time Agent Holmes.”

“You’re welcome.”

At the mention of Charnquist, Henry moves toward the TV and angrily shuts it off. With a look of sadness, he turns back to the broken bottle on the floor. Suddenly he sees something shining in the sunlight on the floor. He walks over to the light switch and turns on the light in the room and is astonished to see several diamonds on the floor.

He remembers that Ben Charnquist was looking for something after Nick died. He looks at the other ships that Nicolas made in the last year and begins to smash them. His eyes widen as more diamonds fall out.

“Nicky! What were you involved in?!”

NEXT